Ask Seattlest: Are the Sonics Moving?

Hey--so, are the Sonics really going to move?

Team owner Howard Schultz says that if the city doesn't agree to renovate Key Arena, the team will leave after its current lease runs out in 2010.

Wait, didn't the city renovate Key Arena already?

Yeah, in 1995 they added more seats and a bunch of luxury suites to entice the Sonics to stay.

So why do the Sonics want yet another renovation?

Because, they say, with the NBA's smallest arena, and a revenue-sharing lease with the city, they are losing money. They want a big arena that includes restaurants, and they want 100% of revenues. Besides, the Seahawks and Mariners got sweet new stadiums--they think it's only fair that they get theirs.

Life isn't fair, though, right?

No, it isn't. Just because Topher, Ashton and Wilmer all have beach houses in Laguna, that doesn't mean that curly-headed guy gets one too.

Is the city going to build what the Sonics want?

Not unless the team's owners pony up some serious dinero. Right now, the Sonics are offering to pay $18 million of the $220 million renovation cost. The city isn't impressed. They say they'll send any proposal to a vote of the citizenry. And we're thinking that "hey, why not spend $202 million on an arena you renovated for us ten years ago" ain't gonna fly.

So if the vote fails, the Sonics are gone?

Sort of, but not necessarily. The locally-based ownership group is looking at possibilities elsewhere--like Bellevue or Renton.

What if those fall through?

Then they say they will sell the team, presumably to an owner who will move them out of town. Oklahoma City and Las Vegas are the most likely destinations.

So, are they gonna move, or not?

It's tough to tell. We say it's about 60% likely they stay in the Key, 30% likely they move to the burbs, 9% likely they skip town, and 1% likely we all die from avian bird flu and no one gives a shit.